Spring is just beginning with the late rains bringing moisture to the soil. Now is the time for home gardeners to work overtime to catch up with nature’s bounty. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden offers a terrific range of more than 5,000 California native plants that are conservation-wise and drought-tolerant along with many other interesting additions for local gardens as the season warms. Come and enjoy shopping all throughout the month of April as the Garden’s courtyard is transformed into a botanical wonderland stocked with fascinating plants
from growers across the state, with many grown locally at the Botanic Garden. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.

April 2, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Cheeses of Northern Italy Come visit the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy & the Veneto for this delicious tasting! Given the lush topography and rich soil of Northern Italy, the cheeses of these regions really are some of the best in all of Italy. Enjoy the tastes through a delicious selection alongside a tasty new red wine from Piedmont.

The Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra showcases the concertmaster Sheryl Staples. Having appeared as a soloist in more than 40 orchestras, Staples performs on one of the world’s great instruments, a Guarneri del Gesu, here in Santa Barbara.

Karen Telleen-Lawton, principal with Decisive Path Fee-Only Financial Advisory, will provide guidance for 2012 and beyond when she speaks on the topic, From Anxious to Adept: Financial Planning Tips for Women, at the Canary Hotel.

Ciro Coelho presents the newest installment in his Travelbooks series, depicting photographs of one of the world’s most famous capitals: Paris. Coelho, a Brazilian-born photographer and filmmaker, will be present at the showing.

WATERFALLS, the international debut of a breathtaking new body of paintings by the critically acclaimed artist, opens this Thursday at Sullivan Goss, An American Gallery. Goldyne uses the Chinese symbolism associated with waterfalls as influence in his collection of astonishing, six-foot-tall paintings.

The first “1st Thursday” at lola (1221 State St. at the back of Victoria Court) features the work of assemblage artist Dan Levin, who typically integrates man-made artifacts that have been discarded as no longer viable. Recently, however, he gravitates primarily towards materials extracted from beaches, streams, mountains and deserts. Whether commenting on the mysteries of the natural world or simply producing an abstract that is aesthetically pleasing, the artist is driven to orchestrate relationships between objects that may never have been in close proximity – forming a singular composition or metaphorical device. The work will be on view all month.

Kat Devlin performs while Maria Arroyo and Todd Mehl serve samples of scrumptious yet healthy plant-based shakes. Local art adorns the walls of the Sojourner Cafe, making this First Thursday a multifaceted cultural event.

Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass present a whimsical dance theater piece set to live recordings of the Rat Pack that blends deadpan comedy, space-devouring choreography, and awkwardly strenuous partnering. Center Stage Theater with a pre-performance Happy Hour at CAF, featuring La Tour Wine, music by Warbler Records, and an opportunity to peruse the exhibition Fights from Wonder.

April 5, 8 p.m., Yo-Yo Ma Reflecting on a Life in Music
The most celebrated classical musician in the world, cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns with an inspiring lecture-demonstration titled Creating a Life With Music that will incorporate video, performance and discussion to address the role of music in today’s global culture

The Community Environmental Council and Traffic Solutions presents an annual grassroots film festival about saving our plant, improving our environment and being green. As one of the Earth Day kick-off events, the Green Shorts Film Festival has been described as one of the most heartwarming environmental events in our region. So, come walk the green carpet, enjoy the film screening and stay for the after party! Stay Green!

State Street Ballet presents an annual choreography concert, featuring innovative choreography on young dancers from the apprentice company of State Street Ballet. This year the works are choreographed by Rodney Gustafson and Josie Walsh.

Anna Netrebko’s dazzling portrayal of the tragic heroine in Laurent Pelly’s new
production comes to the Met from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Piotr
Beczala and Paulo Szot also star, with the Met’s Principal Guest Conductor, Fabio
Luisi, on the podium.

Jonathan McEuen brings his own refreshing and innovative take on blues to the OYES stage. Fusing folk, rock, bluegrass and country, Jonathan’s seamless talent on the guitar provides an eclectic, enlivening night of music.

For an entire month, UCSB Arts and Lectures will be showcasing twelve human rights films, ranging in topic from sex trafficking to the “War on Terror” and genocide. Screenings occur at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on select days at the UCSB Pollock Theater. One of the highly anticipated film screenings includes the Oscar-winning Hell and Back Again.

Singer-songwriter Thad Beckman brings his beautiful vocals and slide-guitar talents to Ojai, playing his own unique blend of folk and blues. He’s known for giving an exceptional show, weaving in real life stories with his heartening lyrics.

The Soul Queen of New Orleans has her Santa Barbara debut courtesy of UCSB Arts & Lectures.One of America’s most distinctive and classic singers, Irma Thomas is a treasure from the golden age of soul music. From her 1960s hit “Time Is on My Side” (later covered by The Rolling Stones) to her 2006 Grammy-winning album After the Rain, the “Crescent City’s long reigning queen of soul” (Rolling Stone) remains as compelling and powerful as ever. Campbell Hall, UCSB.

Join James Wapotich as he gives a thorough and informative presentation on the oft-forgotten Santa Barbara mountains and trails. Wapotich’s talk will cover the San Rafael and Dick Smith wildernesses and will include a Q&A portion with tips for the novice and experienced hiker alike.

Live Nation brings in Tim Minchin, an Australian, musician, actor, comedian and writer. He has been performing his unique brand of musical comedy in front of appropriately excitable and ever-growing audiences since 2005. He won the Director’s Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his break-out show Darkside.

The season finale of the State Street Ballet will feature works ranging from classics to premieres that celebrate the breadth and diversity of State Street Ballet, and honor the vision of artistic excellence.

The Santa Barbara Dance Alliance presents an annual extravaganza featuring over one hundred of Santa Barbara’s finest dancers. The BASH showcase brings the best of the local professional dance and exhibition groups together on one stage at the Lobero Theatre.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden invites you to a self-guided tour of native plant gardens from Goleta to Carpentaria. Experience these beautiful private gardens firsthand and gain inspiration about using these amazing plants in your own landscape.

The Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club (LAVMC) will host its first-ever “Big Band Dance” at the clubhouse located at 429 Leslie Street at the corner of Centennial Street in downtown Los Alamos. The Rose Garden Dance Band will be performing live classic swing, ballroom and Latin music hits from the 1930-50s including selections from such greats as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington. The event is a fund-raiser for the LAVMC—a local philanthropic membership group open to men, women and families—dedicated to preserving the town’s unique character and hospitality and providing scholarships and funding to local students and community service organizations.

Honoring people who have enriched the welfare of animals in our community, this luncheon is capped by a silent auction of lifestyle and recreation goodies. Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network is a nonprofit volunteer organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured wild birds and small mammals in Santa Barbara County.

Slow Food’s annual mushroom hunt and pranzo is back on this year despite fears of cancellation. Join the foodie community for a Sunday full of delicious food, wine, and Bob Cummings’s highly anticipated mushroom expertise.

Speaking of Stories presents Nothing like a Good Surprise!, stories that will give you a surprise on the journey from beginning to end. Direct by Maggie Mixsell, some of the stories include, “Can Can” by Arturo Vivant, “Trusty” by Ron Rash, “Mercy” by Pickney Benedict, and more.

With a concentration on the areas of Auvergne & Rouergue this delicious tasting will be one you surely don’t want to miss. Home to perhaps France’s most famous cheese, Roquefort, this area has a wonderful variety of interesting cheeses that have literally been in existence for centuries.

Arts & Lectures is thrilled to bring the Santa Barbara debut of Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve, the world-renowned Swiss company that is rarely seen outside of Europe. The engagement will feature Les Sylphides and Spectre de la Rose by acclaimed New York City Ballet dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

Educate yourself in the newest research in Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases at this day-long conference, offering many influential keynote speakers (including Marc Jacobson, Ph.D.), workshops, and information regarding all aspects of caring or living with these disorders.

American jazz icon, Charles Lloyd, and the doyenne of Greek song, Maria Farantouri, join forces and spirits to create a bridge of sound spanning third century Byzantine prayers to Lloyd’s own 21st century compositions in the Western premiere of Amarando.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1948 and is Korea’s oldest and most prominent orchestra. The Seoul Philharmonic’s composer-in-residence is Unsuk Chin who received the Grawemeyer Award – dubbed the “Nobel Prize for musicians” – in 2004, and the Arnold Schoenberg Prize in 2005.

Join three renowned playwrights as they each read one of their plays at the Alhecama Theatre. On April 18, Constance Congdon will read 2 Washington Square, Laura Marks will perform Bethany on April 19, and Jeffrey Hatcher will read his play The Good Soldier on April 20. All readings are free. For more information visit www.ensembletheatre.com

A Luncheon and symposium moderated by Colonel Noel Zampot, Commander of Edwards Air Force Base Test Pilot School; introduction by Maj. Gen. Phil Conley, USAF, (Ret) and Lt. John W. Blankenship, USNR. Come here the amazing stories of these highly decorated veteran’s in a once in a lifetime opportunity. These men were among the rare few who were clearly the best fighter pilots.

Join Hospice of Santa Barbara and the Alliance for Living and Dying Well for the Five Wishes Community Workshop. Five Wishes is an easy-to-use advance health care directive. Five Wishes trained volunteers will be available to help people complete their Five Wishes documents and provide more information about funeral homes, cemeteries, notaries, pricing and more.

One of the great, generous-hearted and ingenious comedies of the English language, Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer offers a celebration of chaos, courtship and the dysfunctional family. Hardcastle, a man of substance, looks forward to acquainting his daughter with his old pal’s son with a view to marriage. But thanks to playboy Lumpkin, he’s mistaken by his prospective son-in-law Marlow for an innkeeper; his daughter, for the local barmaid. The good news is, while Marlow can barely speak to a woman of quality, he’s a charmer with those of a different sort. And so, as Hardcastle’s indignation intensifies, Miss Hardcastle’s appreciation for her misguided suitor soars. Misdemeanors multiply, love blossoms, mayhem ensues.

As is the tradition with fringe festivals, Westmont will be wowing audiences with fresh and vivid dance pieces, ten-minute plays, design projects, live music, art walks and devised theater throughout this three-day festival. Spread out across five venues on campus, the Fresh-ly Sliced festival will be sure to depict incredibly creative, brilliant, and unique performances, all created by the students themselves.

April 19, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. “Hat’s Off” Luncheon

The Lobero Theatre Associates will honor award-winning writer and producer Cheri Steinkellner for her upcoming musical “Hello My Baby” during their annual gathering with delicious food and great company. The luncheon will take place at the Montecito Country Club. For more information, call 805/698-3884.

This elegant seated dinner honors the contributions of community members and affiliate honoree of the year Dick Jensen for their support of Planned Parenthood and its mission to combine medical services with education and public advocacy to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families.

Westmont College will be opening the doors of its observatory to give visitors a chance to view Mars through its powerful Keck Telescope. In addition to the red planet, visitors will have a chance to see a triplet of galaxies beyond our own.

Earth Day is right around the corner, and this year Santa Barbara has a huge range of musical performances, workshops, exercise classes, home improvement demonstrations, food demonstrations, book readings and other performances gracing the stage for two full days. Come out and celebrate the beautiful area we live in! For a full schedule of activities, click here.

Teenagers reveal their alluringly melancholy story of self-discovery and coming-of-age anxiety in Spring Awakening, a rock musical. Set in repressive 19th-century Germany, these students attempt to reckon with the thrilling, complicated and confusing time of their adolescence. This is a powerful celebration of youth and rebellion in a daring fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll.

Times: Thursday, April 19, through Saturday, April 21, at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 26, through Saturday, April 28, at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 29, at 2:00 p.m.

Come out to Carr Wineery and raise your glass to an enjoyable evening of fine wines and gourmet appetizers. This event supports the vital work of the New Beginnings Counseling Center and their homeless outreach programs.

The Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the 8th Annual Taste of Pismo. Guests can experience the delicious cuisine of Pismo Beach and the delightful world of Central Coast wine. There will be three special events over three days, “Farm to Street,” “Premier Wine & Culinary Event” and “Pancake Breakfast.”

With live performances by some of the most prominent flamenco artists today, this performance brings the excitement of flamenco music and dance into the lives of children. This matinee performance is designed to encourage discussion of world cultures and cultural diversity; inspire creativity and expression; introduce the historic relationship between Spain and Santa Barbara; and present the emergence of flamenco as a major component of America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

At the Museum of Ventura County’s Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Pavilion, the Gizmo Guys, master jugglers, will take he stage with their high-energy performance. Known for their humor as well as technique, these guys tour worldwide and have appeared in more than 2,500 live performances. The performance is for both adults and children.

Earth Day in Santa Barbara deserves the best lyrical performances, so the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus will be wowing audiences in two locations for the Earth Day festivities. Be sure to use this Sunday to celebrate the beautiful area that we live in and the children whose voices are just as enchanting.

The Alliance for Living and Dying Well gathers the community together to celebrate the Five Wishes, an advance health care directive. The Five Wishes program helps patients and families alike cope with illness and educates them on how to make medical decisions. Guests speakers include County Supervisor Salud Carbajal and the CEO of Cottage Hospital, Rob Werft.

“FAIR-y TAils come true” at the 23rd annual Santa Barbara Fair & Expo at the Earl Warren Showgrounds is a happy place that will put a smile on your face! Exciting carnival rides, bewitching fair food and enchanting farm animals are waiting for you!

April 25, 5:30 p.m. Master Class with Mark Morris Dance Group

Join the Mark Morris Dance Group for an evening of dance instruction at Santa Barbara Dance Arts. Co-presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and Santa Barbara Dance Alliance. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 805/966-6950 or visit www.sbdancealliance.org.

Hospice of Santa Barbara is hosting a wine-and-cheese reception for local photographer Betsy Mooney’s new exhibit. Titled “On Tender Wings” and featuring an array of photographs of butterflies, the exhibit will run through mid-July.

Mitchell Thomas and Maurie Lord (co-founder of Genesis West) collaborate to produce The Fever, a one-man show begging the question: “Is it possible, or even right, for a sensitive person to be happy in today’s world?” Mitchell Thomas, an award-winning actor, director, teacher, and Chair of the Westmont College Theatre Arts department, will perform the monologue.

Featuring the work of Santa Barbara artists Neal Crosbie, Brad Nack, Bill O’Malley, Barry Spacks, and Ron Robertson; Local Legends promises to be one of the most eclectic and dynamic exhibitions of the year. The show runs through June 15, 2012.

In Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice, based on Greek mythology’s central character, Orpheus’ grief at the death of Eurydice is so profound that the god of love and allows him to journey to the Underworld and bring her back to life. But there is a catch: he cannot turn back to look at her. He is unable to resist and pays the ultimate price. Performed in French with English supertitles.

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Joshua Bell and the acclaimed Academy of St Martin in the Fields. The concert marks the orchestra’s first appearance in Santa Barbara since Bell took over for Sir Neville Marriner as the new music director – and its first tour with the renowned, Grammy-winning violinist at the helm.

April 28, 12:00 p.m. Heart of the Matter Gala

A fitting tribute to donors, sponsors and the lives of those affected by heart disease. This event attracts community members together to gain awareness about heart disease and to help the community build healthier lives. Four Seasons Biltmore Coral Casino, 1260 Channel Dr. For more information, call 805/963-8862.

Performances of The Tortoise and the Hare, The Fox and the Grapes, The lion and the Mouse and many more! Appropriate for K-6, performance time approximately 50 minutes. The Children’s Creative Project endorses Ensemble’s Storybook Theatre.

Join the Let It Go Yoga studio for a half-day workshop that will help women get in touch with their inner “warrior” selves. A combination of yoga poses and writing exercises will lead participants on a journey of creativity and self-discovery. For more information, call 805/685-8079.

Trinity Episcopal Church (1500 State Street) is eager to partner with the Santa Barbara Chapter of the International Scottish Society to bring us this celebration complete with blessings of the tartans, songs, readings, bag pipes and drums.

Join fellow community members for the launch of the world’s first non-profit community film studio, Community Film Studio Santa Barbara, Inc. (CFSSB). CFSSB invites individuals to come learn how to make and produce a film. Memberships and sponsors are welcomed. The event is hosted by the CFSSB Borad of Directors and takes place at Marjorie Luke Theater at Santa Barbara Junior High School.

Comedian, writer and banjo player Steve Martin performs at the Granada Theatre for an evening of fun and laughter. Attendees will hear his collaborations with the Grammy-nominated band the Steep Canyon Rangers. For tickets, call 805/893-3535.

Heralded as “Pakistan’s best and bravest reporter,” Ahmed Rashid will be at UCSB’s Campbell Hall to discus the situation, and America’s options, in the post-bin Laden Middle East. Following his lecture, Rashid will be signing copies of his new book, Pakistan on the Brink.

Additional Pages

Santa Barbara Seasons is a resource for locals and visitors alike with lush visuals, engaging features and invaluable information on events, fundraisers, retail and culinary happenings. Every issue includes handy maps, restaurant and winery listings and a guide to the county's top destinations. Be prepared to discover something new about the region as we cover businesses and projects off the beaten track as well as the classic favorites. To advertise or subscribe, contact the publisher at 805/564-8804 ext. 203 or Brian.Kramer@Sbseasons.com.